Chapter 44: Awakening and Reflection

After the reconnaissance and battle, the one who greeted Choi Dowon, Nam Yeji, and Song Seojun upon their return was the leader, Baek Seongjae.

“Did you really encounter three monsters?”

Baek Seongjae frowned at Nam Yeji’s report.

“Yes. In the process, Choi Dowon and Song Seojun sustained minor injuries. We eliminated all three.”

“Good. I can see that from those corpses.”

Baek Seongjae glanced at the monster carcasses they had dragged back and said.

“But how did Song Seojun survive? You said the monsters attacked with a slight time difference, but didn’t they target Song Seojun as well?”

“Ah, that is…”

At Baek Seongjae’s words, Nam Yeji glanced toward Choi Dowon and Song Seojun, who were receiving treatment in one corner of the shelter.

“Song Seojun has awakened a special ability.”

She couldn’t hide it. Nam Yeji simply reported the facts.

Baek Seongjae’s eyes widened.

“He awakened a special ability?”

“Yes. I’m not exactly sure, but it seemed to be defense-oriented. The moment the monster attacked Song Seojun, something like a protective barrier appeared.”

“A defense ability…”

Baek Seongjae’s expression turned serious at Nam Yeji’s words.

In this world, offensive abilities were certainly important, but defense abilities were even more crucial.

Having an offensive ability merely reduced the probability of death slightly, but a defense ability could, depending on its use, reduce the chance of a person dying to zero.

Moreover, those with defense abilities were far rarer than those with offensive ones.

“What should we do?”

Nam Yeji looked at Baek Seongjae with a hardened expression.

Initially treated like baggage due to his superior physical abilities, Song Seojun’s status had risen dramatically with the awakening of his special ability.

“For now, keep it quiet. If Choi Dowon has any sense, he won’t go around blabbing about the kid’s ability either.”

“That should be the case. He’s someone who survived out there without entering a shelter until now.”

Nam Yeji nodded at Baek Seongjae’s words.

“And tonight, bring Song Seojun to me.”

Baek Seongjae said in a low voice to Nam Yeji.

Nam Yeji nodded slightly without replying.

Meanwhile, Choi Dowon, who was receiving treatment in one corner, glanced at Song Seojun.

An awakening…

There were various situations in which special abilities awakened.

Some awakened suddenly when monsters appeared, others through specific actions.

There were also cases like Song Seojun’s, awakening when feeling a threat to one’s life.

Even this…

It resembled himself.

Though the nature of the ability was different, Choi Dowon had also awakened his special ability in the past when threatened by a monster.

Hoo…

Somehow, seeing even more overlap with the kid’s appearance, Choi Dowon sighed inwardly.

Seeing a child who reflected himself this much, Choi Dowon knew he could never abandon Song Seojun.

And he knew better than anyone that he was that kind of person.

Of course, the rarity of a defense ability made abandoning him even more remote, but emotionally as well, it became impossible.

Choi Dowon forcibly ignored the complicated feelings rising within him and calmed his gaze.

Nam Yeji…

He turned his thoughts to the other person who had gone on reconnaissance with them.

Choi Dowon glanced at Nam Yeji, who was reporting to Baek Seongjae.

She fought well.

Until the monster attacked him, Choi Dowon hadn’t taken his eyes off Nam Yeji’s fight.

No, he couldn’t.

Her fighting skills were truly unmatched.

Still… lacking.

Instead of his injured left arm, Choi Dowon clenched his right fist tightly.

He had grown complacent, thinking surviving alone outside without a shelter was enough.

Who knew there would be someone who could fight to that extent.

I came to the shelter because of the kid, but unexpectedly, I’ve been stimulated.

This time, Choi Dowon glanced at Song Seojun.

Song Seojun was receiving treatment with tears streaming down, unable to even look at his wounds, head turned away.

Seeing him like that, Choi Dowon let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

Just looking at that, he’s nothing more than a weak little kid.

Who would have thought he would awaken a defense-oriented special ability.

Perhaps because he lived in a safe zone before, he never had the chance to awaken.

It’s a good thing, though.

This way, Song Seojun escaped his position as baggage, and he would be able to protect himself.

“There, treatment’s done. Be more careful next time.”

“Thank you.”

While lost in thought, Choi Dowon and Song Seojun’s treatment finished.

The man handling the treatment slyly spoke to Choi Dowon with a mischievous expression.

“So, how was the reconnaissance?”

“Hear it from the leader.”

At the man’s words, Choi Dowon replied coldly and turned his head.

“Hey, not that—did anything happen with Yeji?”

“Anything?”

“Hey, why pretend you don’t know when you do? You know, that.”

The man smirked and glanced toward Nam Yeji.

Understanding the implication, Choi Dowon replied with a cold smile.

“Nothing. At all.”

“Really? When she’s that pretty?”

“Seems like in times like these, a woman’s face is important to you.”

Choi Dowon openly looked at the man with an exasperated expression.

“No, well, a man’s gotta be a man, right? With a woman like that, it’s possible.”

The man retorted, getting riled up at Choi Dowon’s words.

“You’re complacent despite being weaker than her. Why not train more in that time?”

“Ha, whatever. I’m leaving.”

At Choi Dowon’s outright cold words, the man waved his hands in annoyance with a displeased expression.

Choi Dowon also turned his head toward Song Seojun with a look of disdain.

“Let’s go, kid.”

“Ah, yes!”

Song Seojun, who had been waiting for Choi Dowon after his treatment, quickly nodded and stuck close to his side.

They walked toward their assigned spot, protecting their injured arms.

“Cut—!”

Director Jo Jaesik’s refreshing cut sign split the set.

“Good, good. Great work, everyone!”

With today’s filming wrapping up cleanly, Director Jo Jaesik’s face was full of smiles.

“Great work!”

“Hard work!”

“You all worked hard!”

At the director’s words, others shouted loudly and began cleaning up the set.

“Waaah, another day wrapped up well~”

Lee Yuhee, who had been off to the side of the set, ran over to where Jeon Siho and Myungwoo were and said.

“Haha, yeah. You did great?”

“What do you take me for? Of course!”

At Jeon Siho’s words, Lee Yuhee grinned widely and flashed a V-sign, and Jeon Siho smiled back at her.

“Myungwoo was still amazing at acting.”

“Aw, come on. This scene wasn’t even centered on me.”

Myungwoo said with a laugh.

“Hey, just because it’s not the main doesn’t mean good acting becomes bad.”

At Myungwoo’s words, Jeon Siho laughed and ruffled his hair.

“Right. No matter how minor, bad acting stands out more. It breaks the immersion of the movie.”

Lee Yuhee also laughed and affirmed Jeon Siho’s words.

“Haha, thank you for saying that.”

Their words weren’t wrong, after all.

For supporting roles, helping the leads maintain maximum immersion was a very important duty.

“What are you two doing now?”

Today’s filming had ended a bit earlier than planned.

Director Jo Jaesik had scheduled longer to account for possible NGs, but since the three most important actors finished every scene in one take, it took less time than expected.

“Hmm, we were thinking of going on a date?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while since we had a date, right?”

At Myungwoo’s words, Jeon Siho and Lee Yuhee looked at each other and nodded.

“A date sounds good.”

“Look at this, what does the kid know?”

At Myungwoo’s words, Jeon Siho said playfully, looking at Myungwoo.

“Haha, Siho, Myungwoo is eleven now. He could know about that stuff.”

“Kids these days grow up fast, anyway.”

At Jeon Siho’s words, Myungwoo hid an awkward expression.

Seeing kids much younger than my past self talk about “kids these days” feels weird.

But in their eyes, he was just an eleven-year-old child.

Myungwoo could only smile awkwardly.

“Then have a good time, you two. Enjoy the date.”

“Yeah, you too, Myungwoo~”

“Take care. See you tomorrow.”

Myungwoo, Jeon Siho, and Lee Yuhee exchanged farewells and parted ways.

Myungwoo also greeted others and ran toward where his manager was.

Or rather, he tried to run.

“Wait, Kang Myungwoo?”

At that moment, an elderly voice called out to Myungwoo.

Hearing the familiar voice, Myungwoo quickly turned his head.

The veteran actor who played Baek Seongjae, Hwang Kyunghwan, was smiling at Myungwoo.

“Ah, senior Hwang Kyunghwan, hello.”

“Hehe, yes.”

Hwang Kyunghwan smiled satisfactorily at Myungwoo’s polite demeanor.

Myungwoo smiled back at him.

“What brings you here?”

Now that greetings were over, Myungwoo tilted his head, as there was no particular reason for Hwang Kyunghwan to speak to him.

“Hehe, does a senior need a reason to talk to his junior?”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant.”

“Keke, it was a joke. Myungwoo, you have a naive side, huh?”

Hwang Kyunghwan laughed heartily at Myungwoo’s flustered appearance.

“Haha…”

Myungwoo gave an awkward smile as he faced Hwang Kyunghwan.

And for good reason…

Seeing my debut colleague here, of all places.

Hwang Kyunghwan had been Han Minwoo’s—Myungwoo’s past life—debut colleague.

Myungwoo faintly recalled scenes while looking at Hwang Kyunghwan.

Ugh, Kyunghwan hyung, when will we make it big?

Hey, Han Minwoo, how long have we been debuted to already say that?

Come on, once you start acting, it’s okay to think about it.

Haha, that’s true. You’ll make it big, man. I’ve never seen an actor work as hard as you.

Haha, thanks. You’ll make it too, hyung.

They had debuted in the same drama when young, became close, often met on sets, and maintained their friendship privately.

As they aged, Han Minwoo became a famous supporting actor, and Hwang Kyunghwan a veteran actor—their success timings were similar.

But precisely because of that, there was even less reason for Hwang Kyunghwan to approach Myungwoo now.

A senior with 40 years more debut experience—what could it be?

He couldn’t figure out why the man was speaking to him.

“No need to be so nervous, Myungwoo. I just wanted to chat with a promising junior.”

“Ah…”

At the praise from his debut colleague—who was now a vastly senior veteran actor—Myungwoo made a flustered expression, not knowing what to do.

He had a sense of how to handle most people, but with Hwang Kyunghwan, he had no idea.

Myungwoo couldn’t hide his awkward expression while looking at him.

“Haha, thank you. Being praised by such a great senior, I don’t know where to put myself.”

That was all he could reply.

Hwang Kyunghwan looked at Myungwoo with complicated eyes.